C.S.H.B. 1340 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1340 By: Eissler Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE C.S.H.B.1340 78(R)Currently, transponders are issued by local government entities for use on toll roads and toll highways. These transponders are exclusively effective for use on roads under the issuing government entity's control. The purpose of CSHB 1340 is to promote interoperability with respect to transponder technology used in this state, ensuring the seamless operation of toll collection facilities and facilitating mobility on toll road projects. This goal is to be accomplished without adversely affecting governmental entities that are currently operating toll road projects or that include urban areas that are likely to have a substantial number of transponder customers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Transportation Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 362.153 and Section 362.155, Transportation Code) and to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 1 (Section 362.154, Transportation Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS CSHB 1340 amends Chapter 362, Transportation Code, by adding Subchapter D, which addresses the issue of transponder interoperability. In this analysis governmental entity does not include a regional tollway authority described in Chapter 366, a county that has a population of more than 1.5 million, or a public entity that, on September 1, 2003, operated a toll road project. Under this bill the transportation commission will establish a Statewide Interoperability Standards Advisory Committee composed of persons with knowledge of and interests in interoperability. This committee will develop a strategy and make recommendations to the commission and the legislature on establishing an interoperability plan and statewide interoperability standards. Following the submission of recommendations from the Committee the Department of Transportation will develop standards for the interoperability of transponders in consideration of the recommendations offered by the Committee. Once these standards are established, governmental entities will be held to them when selecting transponder technology. Transponders will be subject to administrative fees for their use outside of the issuing governmental entity's boundaries. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect September 1, 2003 COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute modifies the original by redefining governmental entity, adding the provision for creation of the Statewide Interoperability Standards Advisory Committee, creating a central authority to guide the process of interoperability, and adding an additional administrative fee provision.